Infant Safe SleepMonth approaching

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Each year, Michigan loses more than 100 of its children to unsafe sleep.

In a recent press release issued to the Tribune, the Michigan DHS says it’s committed to doing everything it can to get the message of safe sleep out to the public.

September 2011 will mark the fifth observance of Infant Safe Sleep Month for Michigan. Governor Rick Snyder has declared September as Infant Safe Sleep Month to help stem the growing tide of deaths caused by babies being put to sleep in unsafe environments.

Important facts on Infant Safe Sleep

• In 2009, 63 Michigan babies, or more than one child every week, died of accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed

• Four out of five deaths due to suffocation occur in an adult bed, waterbed, couch, or recliner

• For nearly 3⁄4 of deaths due to suffocation, the baby was found sleeping with another adult or child

• Soft/heavy bedding was found to be a factor in 50 percent of the sleep related deaths

• An additional 45 infant deaths were classified as SIDS in 2009

You can help make a difference.

Urge your families to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines

• Infants should be placed to sleep on their backs for every sleep

• Use a firm sleep surface, firm mattress covered only with a fitted sheet